Athletic shoe



March 24, 1942. o. w. DAVIS ET AL I 2,277,078

ATHLETICSHOE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 a; W, IINVENTORS BY Mew M0276 6/0726 ATTORNEY$ Patented Mar. 24, 1942 ATHLETIC SHOE Olin W. Davis and William E. McClure,

, Dayton, Ky.

Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,572

3 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and is particularly directed to shoes adapted for use in play games, such as football. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the structure of the sole of this type of shoe, including the cleats.

Molded or rubber cleats have been in use heretofore. One of the major problems has been the attachment of the cleats to the sole. Despite all efiorts made to securely attach the cleats, they continue to come off. Quite often the composition or rubber cleat element in current use becomes loosened from the attaching means and the player continues in the game with a metal extension projecting from the sole, which extension is quite jagged, and has therefore caused many accidents. Moreover, considerable difiiculty has been encountered in sealing the connection of the cleat to the sole so that water does not get into the sole structure in back of the cleat.

Accordingly, it has been the object of the present inventors to rovide a sole construction incorporating cleats, wherein the attachment of the cleat is by far more rigid than that of the past. Toward this end, the cleat has been countersunk in the sole structure so as to be united with the sole in a very efficient manner, preventing easy displacement. Moreover, as an additional phase of the invention, means have been provided for amply supporting the cleats against inward displacement relative to the sole. It has been arranged that the cleats embedded in the sole are frictionally united with the socket so as to prevent rotation. Other structural features are provided for preventing rotation.

Furthermore, it has been an object of the present inventors to provide against the entrance of water into the cleat socket.

It has been a further object of the present inventors to provide an attachment means for the cleats, which is set down into the sole structure so as to project as little as possible beyond the bottom of the sole.

Also, it has been the purpose to provide attachment elements which present smooth, rounded head ends and which are therefore not capable of inflicting injury in case the molded cleats are ripped from the metal fastening elements in the course of play.

Finally, it has been the object of the inventors to provide a thorough attachment between the composition, forming the rubber cleats, and the metal means within them. However, in the event that the cleats do tear off, the metal attaching means are set so deeply in the sole and are so formed that there is no likelihood of injury.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from a descriptionof the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side View of a shoe including the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 22, Figure 1, showing the detailed construction of the cleats and their attachment.

Figure 31s a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, showing the arrangement of the cleats on the sole.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the attaching elements carried within a cleat.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the sole looking into one of the sockets.

Referring to the drawing, the shoe upper is generally indicated at H) and the sole structure at l l'. The sole structure includes an inner sole l2 and an outer sole [3, with the edge of the upper stitched between these soles as at Hi. Plates l5 are inserted between the soles at the regions of the cleats. v

The cleats are generally indicated at [6. They have tapered form providing a shoulder l1 and a straight circular shank l8 adapted to be socketed in a socket element l9. A metal attaching element or sleeve is embedded in the molded cleat on a central axis. This attaching element includes a head 2| of button form presenting a rounded downward surface and an innerv shoulder. The balance of the sleeve element is square 7 and includes a screw-threaded bore 22.

The head of the attaching element 21 includes a series of circumferentially arranged longitudinally disposed bores 2 I. When the cleat is molded about the element, the composition of material flows into these holes as shown in. FigureZ and additionally locks the elements together.

The socket element I9 is of cup form including a flange 23 overhanging the under surface of the outer sole and received within an annular groove 24 in the cleat element. Accordingly, the cleat material engages the outer sole around the flange of the socket element.

An attaching stud 25 is secured to the sole structure for each cleat. It includes a large washer-like head portion 26 lying between the inner sole and the plate [5, and a nut Zlscrewthreaded on the stud and engaged against the bottom of the cup-like socket for clamping these elements; that is, the socket plate and stud,- together. The cleat is countersunk slightly so as to clear the nut 21 topermit the nut to come into direct engagement with'the upper end of the attaching sleeve 20. The inner face of the socket is knurled as at 28 so as to provide a good frictional bond between the inserted cleat and the wall of the socket.

Due to the mounting of the cleats in the sockets formed in the shoe sole, there is very face of the sole as well. By recessing the sole.

to receive the cleats, the attaching means for the cleats are lowered and the projection from the sole is much less. If the cleats should by some chance tear loose in play; the button headed elements, presenting well rounded broad surfaces, will not cause injury.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. A sole construction for a shoe comprising an inner sole, an outer sole, apl'ate disposed between said soles, said outer sole including an opening therethrough, a socket element secured in said opening, a stud disposed axially in the opening and fixed to the plate and the socket,

and a cleat element countersunk in said open-- ing and including a 'sleeve element embedded cup form including a flange overhanging the margin of the opening on the bottom of the sole, a composition cleat including a counterturned portion inserted in the cup shaped socket, the -shoulder of the cleat being grooved to receive the flange of the socket element whereby the shoulder of the cleat abuts the flange and the bottom of the sole around the flange.

3. An improved cleat construction for shoes comprising a composition cleat element having "a counterturned portion adapted to be inserted in anaperture of the sole, said cleat element carrying an attaching sleeve axially therein having a shank portion accessible through the up-- 

